The Women of Jacob’s Mountain Boxed Set

by Hining, Deborah;

  Gaynell came to monopolize her time for a week, but after she left, the loneliness descended again and the long darkness settled into her spirit. She closed herself off, waiting for the spring thaw to dissolve the thorns of winter and for her womb to reaffirm the season of blooms.

  By February, she was feeling homesick, lonely, and disconnected, but the baby grew and quickened and gave her a solitary joy. She often reminded herself that she was not going back to the hills, that return would be impossible, but she couldn’t stop imagining her little girl running through the meadows, and finally she began to beg God to take away the awful desire to go home. God’s voice remained inaudible, and the Scriptures did not comfort. It seemed that she could not get away from the verses proclaiming the fulfillment found in the land, the abundance of the hills. She copied out the verse from Genesis, Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land, and taped it to the refrigerator, then took it down again when she realized the impossibility of the promise it seemed to imply.

  Spring came at last, bringing song and scent upon the crest of the warming breezes, and April ripened into May. Geneva’s child grew, and with the swelling of the buds and the child, her spirits lifted. Her mother would be back in three days, and after the baby came, Rachel would come for a weekend. She thrilled with the anticipation and tried not to think about the challenges of the next year, the challenges of the rest of her life. God had been providing all this time, and He would surely continue to do so. She counted the hours until she saw her mother’s face again.

  The ringing telephone startled her. “Hi, honey!” came Gaynell’s voice, brittle and too bright. “Mama!” she exclaimed. “Is something wrong?”

  “Oh, honey! My bursitis is acting up, and my shoulder is just frozen up.” Geneva groaned. “I know. I’m going in for a cortisone shot on Monday, but I won’t be able to lift a thing for a while, and I can’t drive.” Geneva felt the misery in her voice. “I’m so sorry, sweetheart, but I will be worse than worthless. But Daddy can come, and Rachel might be able to get away for a few days. Sally Beth said she would take some time off to take care of the children.”

  Geneva fought back the tears. “Oh, mama, I’m so sorry!” and the brutal homesickness severed her heart. She missed her mother, and the only thing she wanted was for her to be with her when her own baby came.

  Gaynell’s voice wavered. “It would be really nice if you just came on home. Daddy will come up to get you, and we can move a bed back into the den, like we did when you were hurt. Daddy even said he’d build you your own wing if you’d come home and stay. And Rachel keeps arguing with me because she wants you there, too.”

  Geneva thought. “Does anybody know about the baby, mama?”

  “No, just Sally Beth and us. But, Geneva, you’ve been away long enough now that people will probably think the daddy is in DC. We can tell them you had a boyfriend, or a husband, and things didn’t work out.” She pleaded, “Come on home, baby. You can’t be happy there all alone, and we really want you here.”

  Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land. The words rippled under the surface of her mother’s voice. Her capitulation was sudden and complete.

  “Okay, mama, I’ll come home. But I can drive. Don’t be sending Daddy up here to get me. I need my car, anyway.

  “No, indeed! You are nine months pregnant, and I won’t have you driving all by yourself all the way here. Daddy can be up there tomorrow.”

  “I’ll think about it. Maybe I can drive just behind him, but I really want a car if I’m there.”

  She got off the phone, then went to Howard’s apartment. He was just leaving for work when she stopped him in the hallway.

  “My mom called. She’s having a bout with bursitis, so she isn’t coming after all. Dad’s coming to get me, so I wanted to tell you goodbye, and to thank you for all you’ve done for me. You’ve been a good friend, Howard, and I really appreciate that.”

  “You’re leaving? Just like that?”

  “Well, yeah. Daddy will be here tomorrow. I wanted to let you know so you can take care of Peanuts. I probably won’t be back for a while, and when I do, I’ll be moving into my old place.”

  “Wait a minute. Your dad is driving out here to get you?”

  “Yeah, they don’t want me driving by myself this far along.”

  “I can drive you.”

  “What? No! There’s no need for you to do that. And I really want my car.”

  “No, really. I have business in Chicago next week. I can drive you home, then catch a plane out of there, and I can fly directly back here from Chicago, so you can use my car for as long as you want.” He chuckled. “Your car. I haven’t forgotten that it’s really yours,” he said, referring to the Jaguar. “If you can get me to the airport closest to Tucker sometime on Monday, that will work out just fine. Besides, it would be nice to spend the weekend in the mountains. Hey, free place to stay, and I could use the fresh air.” He smiled in a friendly way, and Geneva wanted to believe he no longer loved her. If she accepted, would this be taking advantage of him?

  He seemed to read her mind. “Don’t worry. I really do just want to get some good mountain air. I got to where I like it. And there’s nothing wrong with letting a friend drive you somewhere when you are nine months pregnant, okay? You’ve done plenty for me over the last few months.”

  Despite her concerns, it seemed like a sensible solution, so Geneva accepted the offer, with the exception that they take her Mazda rather than the Jag. She spent the rest of the day packing and finding a sitter for Peanuts while Howard called his travel agent to change his itinerary. It all happened so smoothly that early the next morning, they threw suitcases into the car and headed west. Both Geneva and Howard were in high spirits, and somewhere along Interstate sixty-six, she remembered why she had been in love with him. He was fun and funny and considerate.

  “Thank you,” she said.

  “You’re welcome. I’m having a good time.”

  “Me too, but thank you for more than this. Thank you for being such a friend, despite all I’ve put you through. Thanks for sticking with me.”

  “I’m the one who should be thanking you, and I’m the one who screwed up. You have been my friend too, and good to my mother. She loves you, you know.”

  “She’s a sweet lady. With emphasis on the lady.”

  “Yeah.” He drove silently. “I had a good long talk with her last night. She’s doing really well.” He was still for a short time, then spoke again. “Geneva, are you going to marry Howard?”

  “No. I’m not even going to tell him about the baby.”

  “Why not? If I can ask,” he added hastily.

  She looked straight ahead. “He’s in love with someone else. It wouldn’t do any good to complicate his life.”

  “He’s in love with someone else? Uhmm, I don’t think so. If he is, he got over you awfully quick.”

  “Yeah, well, he did.” Her back was beginning to ache, and she wanted the conversation to end, so she shifted away from him and looked out the window. The houses and fields drifted by.

  “So you’re going to do this all alone?”

  “‘Fraid so.”

  “And you’ll be coming back to DC soon?”

  “Yes. I’ll need to find a job one of these days. Or maybe I’ll sell my place and move somewhere else. It’s a cinch I won’t be living in Tucker. Not too much call for retail designers in the backwater.”

  “I’d hate to see you go.” He paused. “You don’t have to.”

  “Maybe not. We’ll see. It would be nice to get my old job back, or something like it.”

  “No. I mean, you could marry me. And stay, and not bother with getting a job, if you don’t want to.”

  She looked at him, incredulous, and a rush of warmth filled her. “Oh, Howard! You are such a gallant darling! Here I am nine months pregnant with another man’s baby, and you are offering to
marry me! You deserve a medal or something.”

  “I’m serious,” he said. “If I hadn’t been such an idiot and let you go, this could have been my baby.” He shrugged, then glanced at her. “I can make this one mine. And Geneva, I still love you. I realized that I had never stopped loving you when I saw that boar rushing at you. Even before then, really. You’ll never know how I felt when I saw you on that cabin porch, so full of life and all lit up. I had spent the night stumbling around in the dark, worrying about you, wondering if you were alive or dead, and I knew then that I really loved you, that I would always love you. Why don’t you marry me and let me prove it to you? This baby deserves a father and a decent life.”

  She wanted to weep for him. “Howard, I love you, too. I always will, as a friend. But there is only one man who has my heart, and even though he doesn’t want me, I guess I will live out the rest of my life hoping for him, at least until God gives me some sort of release from him. But right now, just having his baby is enough for me.” She searched for the words to say it without hurting him too much. “I finally know what real, deep love is, and I don’t even want to think about sharing that with anyone but Howard. Can you understand that?”

  He nodded grimly. “My mother will be disappointed. She’s jealous that you’re having a baby and she doesn’t get to be a grandmother.”

  “She is welcome to claim being a granny.”

  “And how about me? Can I claim anything at all? Honorary Uncle seems kind of tawdry, considering our past.”

  “Maybe you can be best buddy.”

  He glanced over and smiled. “I’ll take it.”

  The May morning dawned milky and soft. Geneva rose early—it was impossible to sleep late with her bladder making incessant demands, and her back still ached from yesterday’s ride. She tried to stretch it out, then slipped into the bathroom just as the eastern sky blushed a lovely rose-gold. Thank you God for this day! Thank you that my baby is healthy and strong. Thank you for life! She couldn’t stop humming lullabies as she brushed her teeth and her hair, grown long and vibrant steeped in pregnancy hormones.

  In a sudden fit of girlish preening, she put on her prettiest dress and applied a hint of makeup. There was only so much she could do to detract from her huge belly and her swollen ankles, but she felt she owed it to everyone to try not to look too hideous. Smiling into the mirror, she decided she wasn’t too bad, considering. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if Howard suddenly showed up and declared his undying love to me? came a whisper. But she set that fantasy aside and went to make breakfast. Might as well give everyone a chance to sleep a little longer.

  She had a big breakfast nearly on the table when Wayne wandered in carrying Phoebe. “Up early, I see. How do you feel this morning?”

  “Just great. Of course, I’ll be tired as all get-out by this afternoon, but right now I have enough energy to run a marathon. Want some bacon and eggs?”

  “Smells good. A burst of energy is a good sign you’re ready to deliver. When you start moving furniture around, we’d better head to the hospital. I’ll pour orange juice.”

  “Rachel up yet?”

  “Yes, she’ll be down in a minute,” he said, just as Rachel and Hannah made their appearance, sleepy-eyed and tousled. They were beautiful.

  “Hey, sis,” smiled Geneva. “Sit down. Orange juice, bacon, eggs. Oops! Toast has popped up. Butter it, will you? Hannah, Phoebe, I made Mickey Mouse pancakes for you.”

  “Howard still asleep?”

  “Guess so. He had a hard drive coming through the rain, so I bet he’s pretty worn out.”

  “So what are you going to do today?” asked Rachel.

  “Could be eventful. Geneva is full of energy this morning,” teased Wayne.

  “Uh-oh. I’d better get dressed,” commented Rachel. “Has she been chopping wood or anything?”

  “Not yet. Say, didn’t you want the closets cleaned out? Now might be the perfect opportunity. We could turn Geneva loose on them, and maybe you and I can go riding. Geneva could watch the children, clean the house, chop the wood, and oh, I dunno, maybe wash the cars?”

  “Oh, you had to mention the babies! That woke them up.” Rachel set her orange juice down and jumped up, followed by Wayne. “Go ahead and start, Geneva. We’ll be right back.”

  Geneva took the hands of each of her nieces and said, “Who wants to pray for us this morning?”

  “I do!” said Hannah, beaming at her. She closed her eyes, then opened them. “Phoebe! Close your eyes!” Her little sister squeezed hers shut, and Hannah prayed, “Thank you Jesus for this food and my aunt Geba and Mommy and Daddy and Ginny and L’ora and Phoebe, and for everybody in the world. Amen.”

  “Amen” repeated Geneva and Phoebe, then they tucked into their breakfast. Geneva thought her heart would burst with gratitude.

  There was a knock. Geneva looked up to see John standing behind the screen door. She felt a sudden, heavy shame when she saw his earnest face. “Hey,” he said genially, opening the door and easing inside. “Didn’t mean to startle you. I saw your car in the driveway last night and figured you were back.” He glanced at her belly, and she folded her hands over it protectively. She couldn’t help but wallow in a moment of self-pity. The last time he had seen her she was beautiful. Now she was a blimp, dowdy, slovenly, grotesquely pregnant, unwed. She lifted her head and smiled defiantly.

  “Hey yourself,” she said. “Come on in. You’re just in time for breakfast. If you want to eat well, just have a pregnant woman cook for you.”

  He did not hesitate, but got himself a plate and silverware and sat down at the table beside Phoebe. “Hey, Pheebs. Can I have a bite of that pancake?” The little girl nodded and offered him a forkful. “I am eating this with relish,” he said, his mouth full of pancake. “Do you know what that means?”

  Phoebe shook her head.

  “Relish. Like pickles and olives and things. But it also means that I like it a lot. So it means two things. One is kind of funny. Pancakes with pickles.” Phoebe giggled.

  “Geba eats pickles,” spoke up Hannah, and John laughed. “I bet she does!” and he smiled directly at Geneva, flashing her that look she once found dazzling. Now she found it painful. She decided to get it over with.

  “I came home to have the baby. Mama’s pretty crippled up with bursitis, so she couldn’t come, and well, Rachel has her hands full.”

  He nodded. “You need your loved ones with you.” He paused, toying with his eggs. “I take it you aren’t going to marry Howard?”

  She shook her head. “No, it’s pretty clear he doesn’t want me.” She shook off the pain and smiled.

  John sat quietly for a moment. “Looks like you’re getting close. What’s the word?”

  “Any day now. I’m so close I can’t even drive. Howard—Graves, that is—drove me down.”

  “Oh,” he said. “Nice of him.” The silence deepened, and he shifted in his seat. Ever so slightly, he began to swing his leg nervously. “So, what are your plans?”

  “Don’t really have any, at least for the moment. Guess I’ll just have this baby and get on with my life.”

  “You’re okay with not having a daddy around?” He looked at her earnestly.

  “Not really, but I guess I’ve made my bed, as the saying goes.”

  The leg swung a little more vigorously. “Uh, Geneva, I know this is sudden, but you don’t have a lot of time. I just want you to know that, well, I’ve been thinking, and to tell you the truth, I have been pretty selfishly hoping that you wouldn’t marry Howard. The fact is, I…”

  “Save yourself the grief, man,” came a voice from the hallway. Howard Graves walked into the room. “I’ve already been through the same song and dance, and the lady is smitten.”

  John seemed to grow larger in the chair. “I think it would be appropriate if the lady told me that herself. I don’t need any advice from you.” He glared at Howard.

  “Come on, you two,” sighed Geneva wearily. “The last thing I need i
s for you to get all macho on me.” They both looked at her with such sternness and concern that she suddenly laughed. “Oh my goodness! You both are such darlings! I am blessed in that I have not one, but two gallants looking out for me! Thank you for making me feel cherished. But Howard, you are right. I am in love with Chap, and this is his baby, and even though we will never marry, I am going to raise her all by myself. I won’t have either of you making the big sacrifice here.”

  They both deflated suddenly, and Howard smiled ruefully. “I know it’s tough, man, but we just have to live with it. You’ll get used to it. In the meantime, let’s agree to play second fiddle.” He stuck his hand out to John.

  John looked at him for a heartbeat, then capitulated. “Yeah,” he said, smiling warily, “I guess we both lose, huh?” He grasped Howard’s hand firmly, then punched him in the arm.

  Wayne entered the room with Genny. “I see your fan club has arrived,” he said mildly.

  Geneva laughed. “I’m the fan of these two. You’ve never met two more extraordinary gentlemen, gentlemen in the classiest sense. They both are looking out for my honor, and my welfare. I’m a lucky girl.”

  Wayne put Genny in a high chair and sat down. He forked bacon and eggs into two plates just as Rachel came in with Lenora. She put Lenora into a high chair and attacked her breakfast. Howard took a plate and began as well. Geneva suddenly felt overwhelmed with love as she looked at the faces around the table. I am complete, she thought, or nearly so. I should not ask for more!